Cloth-measuring machine



(No Model.) v

A. I. MITCHELL. CLOTH MEASURING MACHINE.

No. 451,697.' Patented May 5,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER I. MITCHELL, OF GREAT BARRINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOTH-MEASURING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,697, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed January 8, 1891. Serial No. 377,080. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER I. MITCH- ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Great Barrington, county of Berkshire, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fabric-Measuring Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fabric-measuring device, whether the fabric be of cotton, wool, wire, or other material.

It consists, essentially, of an indicating or counting register operated from a needlepointed disk or wheel that is moved by the moving fabric in the process of its manufacture and as it passes over the breast-beam of the loom onto the winding-up roll, whereby the fabric is measured. while yet in the loom and while it is under the normal tension at which it is woven. The fabric thus being measured before passing to the winding-up roll, the weaver or overseer may tell at any time the length of fabric already made, and

hence complete uniformity in the severed lengths that may be cut from the loom is obtained. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of a loom provided with the invention as is necessary to illustrate its application and operation. Fig.2 is an enlarged front elevation of the registering device, illustrating the means by which the fabric is kept in contact with the needle-pointed disk or wheel; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the measuring device, the cover and guard being omitted.

Referring to said drawings, it will be understood that the measuring device A is secured to or supported from some suitable part of the loom, preferably secured to the breast-beam B, over which the fabric passes to a fabric-roll C, and thence around a windup roll D.

The measuring device consists, essentially, of an indicator or counter E, formed by a toothed wheel 20, supported by the frame: work of the measuringldevice and bearing upon its face graduations-as, for instance, from 0 to 50-representing yards. With this wheel engages a worm 21, secured to a cross shaft 22, mounted in suitable bearings and carrying at its outer end a worn1-wheel 23, that is engaged by a worm 24; upon a longitudinal shaft 25, also mounted in hearings in the frame-work of the registering device, and which shaft bears at its inner end a needlepointed or serrated disk or wheel. 26. The device is secured to the breast-beam B, and so located with respect to the fabric that the needle-pointed disk is presented directly beneath the fabric and preferably in proximity with its selvaged edge, so that the motion of the fabric imparted to said needle-pointed disk will be from that portion of its width under a constant and uniform strain, whereby the true length of the fabric is measured by the device.

In order to prevent the fabric from running clear of the needle-pointed disk and thus fail to operate it, the registering device is provided with a cover 10, having an arm 11, of spring metal, that extends over the fabric and upon the opposite side to that occupied by the needle-pointed'disk, and carries at its inner end a guard 12, directly opposed to the needle-pointed disk and above the fabric, and in such close relation to the disk that the fabric will be thereby pressed and held in contact with the disk, so that its needle-points will surely impale the fabric, and thus its motion will be a counterpart of that of the fabric.

To provide a clearance for the needle-points, the under surface of the guard 12 may be grooved, as shown in Fig. 2, so that its greater surface may bear a closer relation to the fabric and, in fact, press it upon the disk.

The cover 10 may have a sight-opening 9, through which the indications may be read, and which cover may be simply held in place by thumb-screws 8, so that it may be readily removed to expose the mechanismof the registering device and at the same time remove the guard from above the needle-pointed disk to permit the withdrawal of the fabric wholly from the disk as well as to restart it on the disk.

What is claimed is= 1. The combination, with a measuring device adapted to be secured to the breast-beam of a 100m, of a needle-pointed disk for conguard above the disk, substantially as detact with the moving fabric and a removable scribed. cover for the registering device, supporting a In testimony whereof I hereunto set my guard above the disk, substantially as dehand, this 20th day of December, A. D. 1890, 5 scribed. 1 V in the presence of two witnesses.

2. The combination, witi a'mcasuring de- 7' T n i 1 vice adapted to be secured to the breast-beam ALEXA} DER MI I ("HELL of a loom, of a needle-pointed disk projecting Witnesses: from the measuring device for contact with N. DELAND, ro the moving fabric, and a springpressed 0. II. BOOTH. 

